The Life of Captain James Cook. 2 Vols. bound in 1

Basel (Basil): Printed by J. J. Toureisen, 1788. First Swiss edition. Hardcover. g- to vg. octavo. xii, (2) 302, (2) 326pp. Contemporary textured calf with gilt lettering on red label and gilt ruling on spine. Marbled endpapers. "A narrative of the life of Captain Cook must pricipally consist of the voyages and discoveries he made, and the difficulties and danges to which he was exposed. The private incidents concerning him, though collected with the utmost diligence, can never sompare, either in number or importance, with his public transactions." (Preface). First English biography of Captain Cook. Contains chapter deliberating the time from the commencement (truncated) of his Voyage to the Pacific Ocean to his death. Binding with some wear along edges, mostly along top of front cover and spine, and rubbed. Some light foxing of first and last part of the volume, else light and sporadic. Binding in overall good-, interior in very good condition. (Inventory #: 46233)